ENVIRONMENT, FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Air Quality Management Zones

Anne Main:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many air quality management zones have been created in England and Wales in each year since they were established. [43120]

Mr. Bradshaw:
The number of local authorities in England and Wales who have passed orders declaring Air Quality Management Areas (AQMAs) in each year since the first declaration in 1999 are as follows:

Number of authorities passing orders declaring AQMAs

1999

1

2000

10

2001

58

2002

29

2003

27

2004

31

2005

71

2006

1

25 Jan 2006 : Column 2107W

Some local authorities have declared AQMAs in more than one year. Other local authorities have revoked or amended AQMAs in subsequent years. The total number of local authorities in England and Wales which currently have AQMAs declared is 170.

Animal Welfare Charities

Andrew Rosindell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many British animal welfare charities have been awarded Government funds in each of the last two years; and how much was awarded to each charity. [43709]

Mr. Bradshaw:
No British animal welfare charity was awarded Government funds in financial year 200405. One British animal welfare charity, the Welfare Fund for Companion Animals, has been awarded Government funds totalling £25,000 in financial year 200506.

Avian Influenza

Rosie Cooper:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the oral statement of 26 October 2005, Official Report, columns 30709, what further work her Department has undertaken on the possibility of an avian influenza outbreak in the United Kingdom; what the results of that work have been; what (a) further work and (b) further work in conjunction with the Department of Health is planned; and if she will make a statement. [37103]

Mr. Bradshaw:
An updated Qualitative Risk Assessment covering outbreaks of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus in the period since the end of October 2005 was published on 17 January 2006. It takes account of outbreaks in village poultry in Turkey, Romania, Ukraine and South Federal district of Russia (European Russia), and also in the south west of China.

This update and commentary does not alter our previous overall conclusion regarding the increased but still low likelihood of the introduction of the virus to the UK from the affected regions. Nevertheless, the increasing number of outbreaks in Eastern Europe raises concerns that the virus may be more widespread than previously anticipated in the affected region. Should the number of virus detections continue to increase in Eastern European countries, this may change the likelihood of introduction of the virus to the UK. Defra continues to monitor developments and assess the situation.

Defra is working closely with the Department of Health on all issues related to the protection of human health during an outbreak of avian influenza, both to ensure the protection of individuals who would be involved in the control of disease and possibly exposed to diseased birds, and to prevent the resortment of the virus and the development of human influenza.

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Badgers

Adam Price:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make a statement on her Department's policy on the culling of badgers; and whether the option of vaccines for badgers is being considered as an alternative. [44695]

Mr. Bradshaw:
Responsibility for tackling bovine tuberculosis is a devolved matter and what happens in Wales is, of course, a matter for the Welsh Assembly. However, in England, we are currently consulting on both the principle and method of a badger culling policy. Developing a TB vaccine for badgers and cattle is one of our key longer-term goals, and significant research is focused on this.

OTMS

Mr. David Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the over-30-month-scheme will come to an end. [44040]

Mr. Bradshaw:
The over-30-month-scheme (OTMS) came to an end at midnight on 22 January 2006. The Older Cattle Disposal Scheme replaced the OTMS on 23 January 2006.

Mr. David Jones:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to increase the number of abattoirs allowed to process over thirty months cattle. [44043]

Mr. Bradshaw:
The decision to seek an approval to slaughter over-30-month (OTM) cattle for the food chain, is a commercial one.

There is no ceiling on the number of abattoirs allowed to process these cattle, although to be approved an abattoir must be able to demonstrate that it has the facilities and procedures in place to effectively test cattle for BSE. As at 18 January, 33 abattoirs had been approved in the UK. We expect more to seek approval as the market for OTM beef expands.

Birds' Eggs (Thefts)

Andrew Rosindell:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many people were prosecuted for the theft of rare birds' eggs in each of the last seven years; and what steps she is taking to tackle such thefts. [43712]

Jim Knight:
The information we hold on offences under Section 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 does not distinguish between egg theft offences and other offences under that section.

However, information on the total number of defendants subject to proceedings at magistrates courts for offences relating to stealing of birds eggs in England and Wales, 19982004 1 is set out in the following table:

Act

Offence description

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

Game Act 1831 sec. 12, 23, 3, 24

Killing game illegally. Killing or taking without certificate. Laying poison to destroy or injure game. Taking or destroying the eggs of game, wild fowl etc., or having eggs so taken in possession

The Government are committed to combating wildlife crime, and, through the Partnership for Action Against Wildlife Crime, supports the network of Police Wildlife Crime Officers who enforce these controls. In particular, the police response to egg thefts'Operation Easter'has made an important impact on this type of crime, and the criminals involved.

Cattle Movement Regulations

Mr. Paice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 29 November 2005, Official Report, column 311W, on farming, in what circumstances an error regarding cattle movement regulations which occurred before 2003, where the animal is now dead, would be considered an infringement of loss compliance rules. [38906]

Mr. Bradshaw [holding answer 20 January 2006]: To reiterate the answer of 29 November 2005, Official Report, column 311W, a breach of the relevant requirements on or after 1 January 2005 will be regarded as a non-compliance and will be assessed for a penalty as required by the EC regulations. Breaches which commenced prior to the introduction of cross compliance and are continuing, through an act or omission of the farmer, into 2005, will also be assessed for a penalty.

The Cross Compliance Statutory Management Requirements covering cattle identification are the legal requirements set out in Council Regulation 911/2004, Commission Regulation 1760/2000 and the related domestic implementing legislation. Any act or omission that breaches this legislation, which took place before 1 January 2005, but which could have been rectified prior to being discovered at any cross compliance on the spot check will be regarded as a non-compliance.